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Baby death sentencing

A Plymouth father has been jailed for seven years for killing his baby daughter. The jury at Plymouth Crown Court took less than two hours to convict Benjamin Roach of shaking one-month-old Roxie Hopkins-Roach to death.

Manslaughter trial hears of baby's injuries

One of the brain injuries sustained by baby Roxie Hopkins-Roach was so severe it was similar to what would be caused by a road traffic accident, a court heard today.

Roxie's father, Benjamin Roach denies her manslaughter in September 2010 at their home in Staddiscombe in Plymouth.

A neurologist who examined brain scans of the one month old said he believed her injuries were typical of shaking. Dr Neil Studley a consultant from Frenchay Hospital, said the injuries were not likely to have been caused by her being shaken to resuscitate her, or that they happened in a fall.

The defence barrister asked the Doctor whether the injuries could have been caused by Mr Roach dropping her from a height of up to five feet.

The Doctor said injuries in different places of Roxie's brain made that unlikely. The trial continues